List of Antarctic exploration ships from the Heroic Age, 1897–1922

This list includes all the main Antarctic exploration ships that were employed in the seventeen expeditions that took place in the era between 1897 and 1922, known as the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. A subsidiary list gives details of support and relief vessels that played significant roles in the expeditions they were commissioned to support.

The tables do not include the regular whaling voyages that took place during this period, or expeditions such as that of Carl Chun in 1898–1899 in the German vessel Valdiva, which did not penetrate the Antarctic Circle. The abortive Cope Expedition of 1920–1922, which collapsed through lack of funding without finding an expedition ship, is likewise excluded, though two men were landed from a Norwegian whaler and spent a year on the Antarctic peninsula.

Of the ships listed, three survived into the 21st century and are serving as museums: Discovery in Dundee, Fram in Oslo, and Uruguay in Buenos Aires. Two ships – Antarctic and Endurance – were lost in the course of their expeditions; two more – Gauss and Yelcho – were scrapped when their useful lives were over. The fate of the Japanese Kainan Maru is unknown. The others, twelve ships in all, continued their maritime duties and were wrecked or sunk in the years between 1907 and 1962.

Online

 * Belgica
 * Southern Cross
 * Gauss
 * Antarctic
 * Scotia
 * Pourquoi-pas?
 * Kainan Maru
 * Fram
 * Terra Nova
 * Aurora
 * Quest
 * Morning
 * Uruguay
 * Koonya
 * Fram
 * Terra Nova
 * Aurora
 * Quest
 * Morning
 * Uruguay
 * Koonya
 * Aurora
 * Quest
 * Morning
 * Uruguay
 * Koonya
 * Uruguay
 * Koonya
 * Uruguay
 * Koonya
 * Koonya
 * Koonya


 * Yelcho
 * Other ships
 * Other ships
 * Other ships
 * Other ships